By Murray McKinnon
Athletics New Zealand
murray@mckinnon.co.nz
Olympic and World shot put champion Valerie Adams finished off her down-under competitive season with a New Zealand all comers and resident record of 20.54m. It was Adams eleventh national shot put title.
In perfect conditions in front of a bumper crowd Adams opened with 20.33m, fell out of the front in the next round with the record coming in her third attempt.
This added 21 centimetres to her records set at the Auckland championships last month.
Her national record set overseas is 21.07m.
“I came out today to try and break my own resident and all comers record; I’m really happy with my series, the best series this season, I’m pretty stoked to throw 20.54m today,” said Adams.
“Competing in New Zealand is always hard to get out for, but hey man if I can do it here I can do it anywhere.”
Jacko Gill knocked off another world age record in the shot put claiming the world record for 16 and 17 year old with the 6kg shot with his performance of 21.34m.
This improved on his own 16 year record of 20.76m and bettered the 17 record of 21.08m set by German David Storl in 2008.
While pleased to get another couple of records Gill was disappointed he didn’t get out to 22.73m which would also give him the 18 and 19 records.
“I definitely wanted a lot further today, but there are a lot of other opportunities to do it,” said Gill.
“There are a few technique things that are wrong,” he added.
Tom Walsh provided plenty of competition for Gill coming second with 19.91m.
Double silver medallist at the Delhi Commonwealth Games Nikki Hamblin comfortably won the first of her double title defenses the 800m in 2m 5.49s. She competes in the 1500m today.
Alex Jordan of Tasman was outstanding in the senior 400m winning in the third fastest time by a New Zealander of 46.40s.
